Nyanchwa SDA Hospital is the latest CHAK member facility to benefit from a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board. The CHAK member health facility which is located in Kisii County joins other mission hospitals who have benefited from PPE donations by Equity Foundation and the COVID-19 fund worth Ksh33 million.

The donations have benefitted 25 mission hospitals affiliated to CHAK and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and spread across various counties in Kenya. The PPEs include 750 protective goggles, 25,000 disposable gowns, 500,000 nitrile gloves, 500,000 surgical masks, 750 face shields, 12,500 disposable scrubs, 25,000 head covers, 5,000 coveralls and 50,000 KN95 respirator masks.

Speaking during the official PPE handover ceremony held at CHAK offices earlier in the year, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr James Mwangi, said the Equity foundation and COVID-19 Fund Board recognized the role played by mission hospitals in the fight against COVID-19 and in contributing to accessible and affordable health care in the country.

“Through KCCB and CHAK, we received a request to support 60 mission hospitals across Kenya. As EGF and the COVID-19 Fund Board, we have saw it prudent to make an initial donation to those mission facilities with active COVID-19 isolation units that are currently managing the care of admitted patients”, said Dr Mwangi.

Speaking during the event, CHAK Chairman Rev. Dr. Robert Lang’at noted that despite the major role played by the faith-based hospitals in the fight against the pandemic, they were faced with PPE shortages due to financial challenges.

“As CHAK, we are privileged to have a presence through our member mission hospitals in 45 out of the 47 counties. The provision of PPEs by Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board will play a huge role in safeguarding the lives of our frontline healthcare workers. Faith based mission hospitals have proven to be critical in the country’s COVID-19 response and the PPEs issued today will help us leverage on the unique strengths of the faith community to mitigate the effects of the pandemic,” said Dr Lang’at.

Another 35 mission health facilities will benefit from an additional consignment of PPEs when their COVID-19 inpatient isolation and management units are active.

The benefitting health facilities have established Hospital Liaison Committees to support management of PPEs. They committees are mandated to receive, distribute, oversee proper usage and re-order to ensure consistent supply of the PPEs to the health care workers. The Liaison Committees for each hospital comprises nominated representatives from Equity; and Healthcare worker representatives, a medical doctor, a clinical officer and a nurse who are members of their professional associations, together with the hospital’s stores in-charge.

The distribution of locally manufactured PPEs is an initiative of Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board as part of a coordinated effort to support frontline healthcare workers through the provision of PPEs.

Speaking at the event, CHAK chairman REV.Dr. Robert Lang ‘at stated that the covid -19 pandemic had created a tough time for people. He noted that faith based hospitals have been on the frontline providing routine health services, while managing covid-19. Despite the major role played by the faith based hospitals in  the fight against this pandemic, the  hospitals have faced a major challenge of accessing adequate PPEs and financing due to the hard economic challenges.

Equity Group Managing Director and CEO,Dr James Mwangi Said ,out of 32 level 4&5 hospitals recommended for support, Equity Group Foundation had agreed to support them in 3 phases, priority being given to the first 10 hospitals, which are already providing treatment services to covid -19 patients. He also added that the  second phase distribution would focus on the remaining 35 mission health facilities, which will benefit from an additional consignment of PPEs when the covid -19 inpatient isolation and management units are actively in use.KCCB Chairman Rt.Rev.Joseph  Mbatia acknowledged the efforts made by the Equity group foundation and The Kenya covid -19 fund board, pointing out that the donation will go a long way in protecting our health workers and trickle down to benefit communities at the grassroot level.

The PPEs donated include;750 protective goggles,25,000 disposable gowns, 500,000 nitrile gloves,500,000 surgical masks,750 face shields,12,500 disposable scrubs,25,000 headcovers,5,000 coveralls and 50,000 KN95 respirator masks. Faith based hospitals  have continued to complement the government response to covid-19 and have been receiving and managing covid -19 patients, with moderate to severe illness. The hospitals have also set aside isolation wards,ICU beds, oxygen treatment support facilities, trained staff and also established protocol for covid-19 screening,treatment,infection prevention and control. This has resulted to the dire need of PPEs for the protection of frontline staff

The burden of covid -19 pandemic continues to grow in Kenya. As at 16^th June 2021,the country  had recorded 176,622 cases, with 3,428 deaths and 97% of the cases were from local transmission across all the counties. A total of 5369 health workers have been infected, and 40 deaths reported. This includes those from faith based organizations.

The private sector initiative has led the way in providing PPEs for health workers and in promoting local production, which has drastically reduced the cost of PPEs and increased access. The covid-19 fund board and Equity Group Foundation have done exemplary well in leading the covid-19 response in the country. The donations will help a large population of Kenyans who rely on mission hospitals for healthcare services, as well as protect our frontline health workers who serve selflessly.

The event provided  a great platform for CHAK member networks and The Equity Group Foundation to build a long-term relationship, and most importantly collaborate in patient referrals and health workers training.